Sawing method



Nov 2 1926. 1,305,816 W. s. DHETRECH SAWING METHOD I Filed July 24/ 1926 s Sheets-Sheet 1 I IINVENTOR. ZUil/mm dDiefr/ch ATTORNEYQ. 1

Nov. 2 1926. j 1,605,816

- w. s. DlETRlCH I SAWING METHOD led y 24, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEi INVENTOR.

Nov. 2 1926., 1,605,316

- w. DEETRHCH sAwmq METHOD Filed July 24, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 1 INVENTOR. (UH/mm d .l7z'efrzc/z ATTORNEY a Patented Nov. 2, 1926.

meters hearse stares rarest. errant.

WILLIAM S. DIETRICH, OF GREENVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIG-NOB TO THE GREEN- VILLE STEEL CAR COMPANY, OF GREENVILLE, LENIISYLVANIA, A CORPORATION 7 OF PENNSYLVANIA.

' sewme Application filed July 24,

This inventionas indicated relates to a. sawing method. More particularly it comprises a method of reducing structures of metal plate, wood or composition, or combination thereof to sections of predetermined size. It is particularly adapted for reducingto scrap obsolete metal car bodies and the like. Certain features of the invention, as will be noted, are of general application and it is not intended to limit such features to the particular constructions shown and described. This method'makes use of the supporting and bracing members of the car body to hold the parts operated upon rigid as the top and peripheral sections are first severed and thereafter intermediate sections and the bottom sections are severed in turn.

Heretofore it has been the practice in reducing obsolete metal railroad car bodies to suitable scrap size to have the operations carried on by a large crew of workmen equipped with suitable cutting devices such as acetylene torches and power drills. and, compressed air rivet cutters and knockout devices. Such operations require large crews and extensive working space. The time consumed in such operations has been found in many instances to be excessive and the expenses of producing scrap metal have been greater than the value of the material so reduced.

The principal object of the present invention is to obviate the disadvantages referred to and to provide a method which will be extremely economical in operation and which will permitthe reduction of such article to predetermined size with a minimum of effort and expense. Another object of the invention is to provide a method particularly adapted to reduce metal railroad car bodies, particularly those of the gondola type to scrap of charging box size with the elimination of rehandling operations. Another object of the invention is to provide a method which may be carried out by an apparatus which may be transported to such localities as are used for the storage or rehaoilitation of metal railway cars, for use in clearing up the obsolete material at such point with a consequent saving of large expense for transportation of such material by reason of its highly concentrated form. Other and further objects of the invention will appear in the course of the following description. To

METHOD.

1926. Serial no. 124,616.

principles of my invention with a gondola railway car shown in dotted lines within the same; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4: is an end view of an apparatus similar to Fig. 3, but showing in addition the apparatus for loading scrap cars; Fig. 5

1s a view similar to Fig. 4: but showing a modified form of loading-device; and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a car body showing the method of separating the same into plates of charging box size.

As is clearly shown in the drawing, the apparatus comprises a super-structure comprising standards 2, mounted on suitable pedestals 3 and braced. by inclined members 4: supported upon additional pedestals 5. At the upper ends of said standards, longitudinally extending track-ways 6 are provided upon which overhead and inside sawing units, presently to be described, are adapted to be movably supported; Transverse frame members 7 may be provided adjacent the ends of said track-ways.

Other track-ways 8, 9 for lateraland end sawing units are provided parallel to said longitudinal track-ways, but on a plane at a point approximately even with the heads of the supporting pedestals. Such trackways maybe directly supported from the ground or may be mounted upon a platform provided at the tops of the pedestals and supported thereon. A central track-way 11 of lUU standard railroad gauge is provided in order that a railroad car 12 of the type referred to may be moved within the apparatus. The two outer track ways are of broader gauge and are adaptedto movably support the lateral sawing units.

The apparatus may be operated-at the ground level, but it has been found desirsevered sections without rehandling. This is accomplished by means of a scrap plate distributing apparatus, which may be of any desired construction, but it has been found that by hinging a pair of longitudinally extending plates 13, 1 1, beneath the object operated upon with a hinged support for said plates positioned centrally at an elevated position and the outer ends of'said plates projecting to a point above scrap cars 16, as is shown in Fig 1, that no intermediate handling operations are necessary, as the plates, as soon as severed from the car body, will be carried by gravity into the scrap cars. The scrap cars, as shown, are mounted on standard gauge track-ways outside of the pedestals.

In the form of construction shown in Fig. 5, a large metal hopper 17 is provided beneath the elevated platform and a scrap car 18 on a standard gauge track between the pedestals is adapted to be moved beneath the open end of said hopper for the recep tion'of the scrap plates as they are severed. The individual sawing units, as is clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawing, are of two forms of construction. In one form, adapted to be used as a side sawing apparatus, the saws are carried on arms projecting laterally from said units, while in the other form of construction the saws are carried on arms depending vertically from said units.

In the first form of units, a longitudinally traveling carriage 21 is provided upon which a transversely traveling carriage 22 is mounted. A vertical frame work 23 is secured to said transversely traveling carriage and embodies in its construction a worm 2 mounted within the same and engaging a movable frame 25 upon which a saw driving motor 26 is supported. Cables 27 are connected with said motor supporting platform and at their opposite ends are attached to a counterweight 28 with a view of permitting the vertical adjustment of said motor and its associated mechanism to be made with a minimumof effort. A laterally eX- tending arm 29 is connected with the motor supporting frame, said arm forming a housing for the motor drive shaft 31. At the outer end of said housing, a swiveling head or rotatable gear housing 32 is mounted within which the saw mandrel 33 is rotatably supported. Beveled gears 34, 35, on the respective ends of the drive shaft and the saw mandrel provide for the transmission of power, and permit the free movement of said swiveling head.

Atthe end of the saw mandrel, a large friction saw 36 of the high speed type, is

supported. The saw may be turned to any position about said supporting arm, inasmuch as the drive is through beveled gears as stated. The saw ordinarily is intended to out only in two positions, vertically and horizontally, and a locking device 37 is pro vided whereby the rotating gear housing may be firmly secured to the lateral extending arm' in each of said two positions.

The sawing unit ll supported upon the longitudinal beams for overhead or inside sawing, comprises a longitudinally travelling carriage 42 upon which a transversely travelling carriage 13 is mounted which supports a frame 1 1 identical with the frame-work heretofore described, forming a part of the side sawing units. In place','however, of a laterally extending arm, a downwardly extending arm 45 is provided, said arm forming a housing for the drive shaft 16' from'the saw driving motor 47. At theend of said drive shaft, a swivelling head or a rotatable gear housing, 18, similar to that heretofore described, is mounted, said gear housing carrying a saw mandrel 9upon the end of which a friction saw 51 is supported. Bevelled gears, 52, 53, connect said mandrel with said drive shaft, and locking means 545 is provided for holding said saw in either a transverse or longitudinal plane. The overhead or inside sawing unit is likewise provided with an adjusting worm 55 for mov-' ing a motor platform and has cables 56 and a counterweight 57, similar to those of the side sawing units.

Motors are provided for moving throu h suitable driving mechanism, the longitudinal and transversely moving carriages and for turning the worm shaft. The'motors are preferably electric motors and controller boxes are provided at suitable positions.

For sawing metal railroad cars of the gondola type, it has been found desirable to provide two side sawing units on each'side of the apparatus and two overhead or inside sawing units. Such arrangement permits ample room for the operators of the units and reduces the time of operation onehalf for each pair of such units.

The preferred. method of operation in reducing a gondola car to scrap plates, preferably of charging box size, is diagrammatically indicated in Fig. 6 and comprises making vertical cuts adjacent one end and I the center of each side at approximately the same time by means of respective side units,

and at the ends by the end sawing units, and then a series of such cuts progressively. The vertical cuts are preferably made first for half the depth of the gondola car and at suitable spaced intervals to provide plates of standard charging box width. W hen the vertical cuts have been made from the top edge of the car to a position approximately midway thereof, the side saws are turned at right angles, from a verticalto ahorizontal'position, and the horizontal cutsare then made through the sides and ends at a (115- tunes to provide plates of standard charging box length, the plates being dropped in rapid succession as they aresevered from the car body into the hoppers or the distributing means disclosed in Figs. 4 and 5 and moving thence by gravity into the scrap cars. lVorkien may be stationed at suitable points to assist in the distribution of the scrap and loading of the cars. After the upper portions of the side and end walls of the cars have been severed, theprocess is repeated with respect to the lower half of said side and end portions. The transversely moving carriages are moved in on their respective track-ways so as to position said saws adjacent the ends of the car body when said side units make the horizontal cuts across the respective ends.

The overhead and inside'sawing units are then moved transversely and longitudinally, as soon as the sides and ends are removed, to sever the marginal portions and then the central portion of the bottom of the car body into plates of suitable size. The marginal or transverse cuts in the bottom may also be made by the side sawing units if desired.

After the car bodies have been reduced to scrap, the supporting frame and runningcause of the heavy costs for labor and the extended space required for carrying on such operations. By the use of an apparatus which reduces a car body to scrap Within a space of approximately minutes and with a crew of not over six operators, such operations, in many instances, may be carried on at a profit.

The provision of swiveling heads for supporting the saws makes it possible to operate with fewer units and requires less space. The carriages as stated may be moved longitudinally and transversely by any desired mechanical means but are preferably driven by electric motors. They may be solidly anchored at such positions by suitable clamping or braking mechanism, such as track gripping clamps of well known construction. Vv hen so adjusted, the proper motors are driven to move the saws vertically or longitudinally as the cutting progresses in the manner heretofore stated.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the means and the steps herein disclosed, provided those stated by any of the following claims ortheir equivalent be employed.

- I therefore particularly point ut anddis- 1 tinctly claim as my invention? 1. in a method of rapidly reducing bulky framed articles, having bottom and upstanding in rginal walls, to sections, the steps of first removing areas furthest from the bot-- tom in platedike sections adjacent the periphery by cuts at an angle to the periphery first removing areas furthest fromthe bottom in plate-like sections in a peripheral zone by cuts at an angle to the periphery and r by cuts substantially parallel to the 138-1 riphery, thereafter repeating said operation in like manner to remove any intermediate areas, and finally removing the bottom area in like manner. p

3. In a method of rapidly reducing bulky framed articles, having main supporting members and side, end, and bottom walls,

with bracing and supporting members atta l ed thereto, to sections, the steps of first removing the areas furthest from the bottom in plate-like sections, adjacent the periphery together with the proportionate parts of the attached bracing and supporting members, by cuts at an angle to the periphery, and by cuts intersecting said first cuts, thereafter repeating said operation in like manner to remove any intermediate areas with attached bracing and supporting members, and finally removing the bottom area in like manner.

4. In a method of reducing bulky articles having side, end, and bottom walls, to sections, the steps of first removing areas furthest removed from the bottom in platelike sections adjacent the periphery by lines of separation, produced by localized heat and abrasion, at an angle to the periphery, and by similarly produced lines of separation intersecting said first named lines, thereafter repeating said operation in like manner to remove any intermediate areas, and finally removing the bottom areas in like manner.

5. In a method of reducing bulky articles having side, end, and bottom walls, to sections, the steps of first removing areas furthest removed from the bottom in plate-like sections adjacent the periphery by linesof separation produced by a friction saw operating in a position at an angle to the periphery, and by lines of separation produced by said saw when set at angle to its first position and intersecting said first named lines, thereafter repeating said operation in like manner to remove any intermediate areas, and, finally removing the bottom area in like manner.

6. Ina method of reducing bulky articles having side, end, and bottom Walls, to sections, the steps of first removing areas furthest removed from the bottom in platelike sections adjacent the periphery by lines of separation produced by a plurality of friction saws operating simultaneously and progressively to form cuts at an angle to the periphery and thereafter to form cuts intersecting said first named cuts, thereafter repeating said operation in like manner to remove any intermediate areas, and finally removing the bottom areas in like manner.

7. In a method of rapidly reducing a rail- Way carbody to sections, the steps of first removing areas furthest from the bottom in plate-like sections adjacent the periphery, by cuts at an angle to the periphery and in tersecting cuts spaced from the periphery to successively sever said sections from said car body,guiding said sections to a place of deposit, and thereafter repeating said operation in like manner to remove adjacent areas, and guiding the severed sections to a place of deposit.

8.. In a method, of rapidly reducing bulky framed articles, having. bottom and upstanding marginal Walls, to sections, the steps of first, removing areas furthest from the bottone in plate-like sections adjacent the periphery, by cuts at, an angle to the periphery and intersecting cuts spaced from the periphery to successively sever said sections from said articles, guiding said sections to a place of deposit, thereafter repeating said operation in like manner to remove any intermediate areas, and guiding the severed sections to a place of deposit, and finally removing the bottom area in like manner and guiding-said severed section to a place of deposit.

9. In a method of rapidly reducing a railway car body havingside, end, and bottom Walls, to sections, the steps of acting against the peripheral areas of the opposite side Walls of said car body by means of a plurality of friction saws adapted to form lines of separation therein at an angle to said periphery, and simultaneously against each end Wall by means of a friction saw adapted to form lines of separation therein at an angle to said periphery, and thereafter shifting said side saws to form lines of senaration through said car body intersecting said first formed lines and severing said peripheral portions of said side and end Walls, repeating said operation with respect to any inter mediate portions of said car body and finally forming lines of separation transversely and longitudinally by means of certain of said friction saws to remove the bottom area of said car body.

10. In a method of rapidly reducing a railway car body, having side, end, and bottom Walls, to sections, the steps of acting against the peripheral areas of the opposite.

side Walls of said car body by means of a plurality of friction saws and simultaneously against each end Wall by means of a friction saw by moving said saws toward the car body and by shifting said saws from vertical to horizontal position to provide vertical and horizontal cuts to sever said peripheral portions of said side and end Walls, and repeating said operation with respect to adjacent portions of said car body.

Signed by'me this 16 day of July, 1926.

WV. S. DIETRICH. 

